Fastening device



T. R. GAINES.

FASTENING DEVICE APPLICATION FILED SEPT-15.1917- RENEWED JULY 8,1920.

Patented Aug. 24, 1920.

5 a vwewt'oz Womas fia/kes THOMAS E. GAINES, OF NORWOOI), OHIO.

FASTENING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented A11 24, 1920.

. Application filed September 15, 1917, Serial No. 191,639. Renewed July 8, 1920. Serial No. 394,806. 7

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, THOMAS R. GAINES, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Norwood, in the county :of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fastening Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates particularly to means adapted to hold a loop or bend of a string, cord, or band at some intermediate point on the run thereof, either before or after application of the same to an object to be fastened.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved means of the type set forth, capable of securely holding the loop or bend of the string, cord, or band, in its position,.without tying it at either end, or otherwise intertwining the ends to produce fastening coils, bows, twists, and the like.

Another object is the provision of an arresting element for the said loop or bend, which shall be applicable thereto by simple apposition, or a mere sliding movement, and meanwhile be carried inside the string, cord or band, for protection and concealment.

A further object is to combine the said arresting element with a check and a lock,

'of-similar operation, whereby it can be stayed with progressively increasing firmness in a predetermined position.

Still another object is so to mount the holding means upon the string, cord or band, that the loop or bend thereof may be stayed on one side or the other as desired, that is, kept from either enlarging or contracting at option, and also be fixed so as to render it immovable in both directions, ifpreferred.

Other objects and advantages of the inven-' tion will become apparent as the specification proceeds.

With the aforesaid objects in view, the in- .vention consists of the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter described, defined in the subjoined claims, and illustrated in their preferred embodiments v by the annexed drawings, wherein like elements are" designated by the same reference characters throughout.

In the said drawings Figure l is a perspective view representing the improved fastening device applied to a tape, such as may be employed for holdin togethera file of documents;

Fig. 2is an enlarged longitudinal section of the same form of the device, excepting the arresting element therein has been given a slightly different shape;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that preceding I a but in addition shows how the device can be made to stay the loop or bend of the tape, string, cord or band, so that it cannot move in either direction, and likewise to hold different objects together so they may not come apart; v I

Fig. 4 also is an enlarged longitudinal section illustrating a duplicate application of the aforesaid arresting element and check; and V Fig. 5 IS a perspective view of a modified form of construction.

In these views, the numeral 11 denotes a flexible or at least partly bendable member, .which may be a string, cord, band, tape, or

the like, depending on thepur pose for which the same is to be employed. Thus, a string may be used for doing up a parcel or package; a cord for holding back a curtain or drapery; a band to serve as a garter, armlet, or bracelet; a tape to keep papers neatly bundled, etc., etc. As above stated, with reference to Fig. l, the drawing. shows a tape, which will sufiice to demonstrate how the invention is carried out in practice.

The aforementioned tape, constituting the member 11, herein, may be made as usual of any suitable textile or other fabric, and is preferably formed tubular, as at 12, after the manner of a shoe lace or string. Like the latter, it may also have a metal tip, at one end.

.the object tobe fastened.

An arresting element 21 is provided as the first means for staying the said loop or bend of the hollow member 11 in a predetermined position. This element, in the present exemplification of the fastening device,

consists of a small globular or quasiglobular body, such as a grain of shot, for 1nstance, and is lodged within the tubular tape, or hollow part of the said member. $uflicient space is allowed for the element 21 to be moved or slid forward or backrin.

side the tape or hollow member, in order to permit the formation of the loop 15 f greater or lesser extent therein, as may be required for practical usage, but as shown it is preferred that the element have only fa driving fit, internally 'ofthe tape, so that it cannot be advanced or retracteduthrough 'the latter without exerting thereon some slight external pressure. Obviously the onlypar-t of the member 11 which-needs to be made hollow or tubular is that in which the bending action of the slidable element occurs. 1

' then the loop 15 is to be stayed on the 7 outside simply, that is, only to prevent enlargement thereof, the element 21 in such case will be-located outwardly with relation to the eyelet 14L, or corresponding portion of the tape 11, as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing, and similarly in Figs. 2, 1 and V By sliding the-element close to the'eye- V ment in normal conditions.

hand, itjb'e desired to preclude the narrowlet, or the equivalent thereof, it will operate to maintain the loop substantially fixed upon I the object encircled thereby, offering enough:

resistance to prevent slackening or enlargeing in of the loop, then the element 21 should be positioned as indicated on the right hand side of Fig." 3; in which case the movementof'the eyelet will be arrested as'soon as it has reached-the desired point upon being impel-led in an inward three-- tion. The size of the loop orbent portion 7 of the hollow member can thus be gaged so as to suit any requirement, and the same v will not varypaft'er adjustment, unless the member, orits looped part,-bemade elastic for some specific purpose, and in that event the arresting member wo'uld'still retain its point required. 7 g A second means for staying the looped or 5 relative location. r v v In Fig. 3, above referred to, it will be observed that there are'two arresting elements 21, one'situated on each side of an' apert'ured' object 22, of which but a fragment is shown. It can readily be perceived,

however, that'the object is caught and held between the pair of arresting elements, wh ch COflChlIl maintaining the same at the bent end of the member 11 in the desired position is provided in the form of' a check- 25, which is an auxiliary to thebefore described arresting -element 21. The check 25 is placed exteriorly of the said member and 7 *may conveniently consist of a slip-knot. of

the same fabric asthe tape, or else of an axially" bored bead slidable onv the latter,.

towardand' away from the said element.

By preference, a snug fiti's effected between the said'check or bead 25 and the outer face of the hollow member, to induce a slights5- frictional interengagement. It will be noted If,-on the other 14 Fig. 5; andso on ad Z'z'bz'zfum: 7

bviously, this improved-fastening device 1 that the arresting element and its auxiliary .check combine in resisting either enlargement or contraction of the loop 15, or in other words the shiftlng of the stayed end of the member 11 in one direction or the other or both wa s accordin to the osi -1, this look may have the form of a double slip-knot, of same material as the tape 11 and adapted slightly to compress the same, oppositely to theshot 21, the action whereof it is to expand-the tubular tape, as will be observed. But, beads 3P may be used instead, assuggested in the other views-wherein the locks appear of same shape and structure as the check beads 25, previously de-' scribed. V

Fig.5 illustrates a modification of the invention particularly adapted for use where it is not convenient to have a loop on the member 11 previously to its being applied, but nevertheless is: desirable to provide a {means of promptly forming such loop as may be needed'forthe purpose to be accomplished.

In this modified" construction, the eyeletis supplemented, and may be replaced altogether, by a wire loop or doubledhook 35,01 sufficient-internal dimensions to admit the free passage, at or near the base thereof,

of the outdrawn end of the member 11, with the arresting element 21, and check 25, carried thereby; lhe apex of the triangle presented within the loop or hook 235 is narrowed'to sufficient extent to stop the said -p'arts21 and 25,- andprevent their slipping back through the loop, when'the latter has been drawn tightly around or upon the ob ject on which the fastening device is employed;

various modifications may be embodied in the device in accordance with the users choice and discretion. Thus, for example,

the lock 31 may have a pendant 36, with an eye 37, as illustrated in Fig. 1,-topermit insertion of the tipped end18 of'the member 11 and subsequent formation of a supplemental loop, in a manner that iswell understoodi The arresting element may be more or less pointed in both ends, like that denoted by 21 in Fig. 2. A second arresting element 21 may-be introduced between the check 25 and the 1001131, as in Fig- 1. The

opposite ends ofthe member 11 may be cloubled upon themselves and eyeleted, asat 1 1,

can be put to vmany uses besides those to which allusion has already been made. It may be employed advantageously as a substitute for rubber-bands, which as generally known soon lose their inherent elasticity and snap oil in two or more parts when stretched, particularly after some exposure. It may well replace also the common form of shoelace, and unlike the latter, does not require to be tied at the ends by a bow-knot or otherwise. Analogously, it is available for holding together the opposite edges of corsets, leggings and other articles of wearing apparel, or parts thereof, such as waist-bands, belts and girdles.

It can further be used in connection with various forms of closures, for instance when tying a string, tape or ribbon around the mouth of a bag to keep it closed. In surgery, it will answer as a safe and quickly responsive fastener for a tourniquet, and so on through a wide range of applications in different arts, trades and manufacture.

Having described my invention, what I desire to secure by Letters Patent, and claim is 1. A fastening device including a tubular member capable of forming a loop or bend, and an arresting element operable to stay the latter by being moved thereagainst within the said tubular member.

2. A fastening device including an expansible hollow member having one end adapted to be bent upon some intermediate point along the run thereof, and an arresting element of greater width than the internal diameter of said member movable therethrough toward or away from its said end.

A fastening device including a hollow member capable of being looped or bent upon itself at one end, an arresting element within said member movable toward or away from the loop or bend thereof, and a check adapted to be positioned against said element.

4. A fastening device including a hollow member capable of forming a loop or bend, an element designed to stay the latter by moving thereagainst within said member, and a check movable toward or away from said element upon the members exterior surface.

5. A fastening device including a hollow expansible member, an arresting element of greater diameter adapted to be driven through said member so as to stay a loop or bend on the run thereof, and a movable check for said element normally held to the exterior of the member by frictional engagement.

6. A fastening device including a hollow member capable of forming a loop or bend, an arresting element for the latter movable internally of said member, a check for said element adapted for movement toward or away from the same, and a lock designed to coact with said check in maintaining the arresting element in a predetermined position.

7. A fastening device including a hollow pliable member, an arresting element movable inside the latter so as to stay a bend or loop on the run thereof, a check for said element, and a lock adapted to compress said member while being placed in juxtaposition to said check.

8. A fastening device including a hollow expansible member, an arresting element of larger caliber adapted to be impelled through said member against a loop or bend on the run thereof, a check adapted to be positioned adjacent to said element, and a compressing lock slidable upon the exterior of the member contiguous to said check.

9. A fastening device including a hollow member capable of forming a bend or loop at one of its ends, an arresting element adapted to stay said bend or loop by moving through said member, a check for said element, a lock designed to cooperate with said check in keeping the arresting element in a given position, and means on said lock available to hold the other end of the hollow member in folded condition.

10. A fastening device including a hollow member provided with a differentially ap ertured loop through which one end of said member can be inserted to form a bend in the run thereof, a slidable element inside the member capable of being passed through the wider portion of said loop but designed to be stopped by its narrower portion upon completion of said bend, and means serving to maintain said element in a firm position against the narrowed part of the loop.

Signed at the borough of Manhattan, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 14th day of September, A.D. 1917.

THOMAS R. GAINES.

Witnesses:

H. C. KARLsON, A. M. LINDENSTRUTH. 

